Heavy Duty Vented Caps for Excluder Gourds

Welcome to the internet's gathering place for Purple Martin enthusiasts
Post Reply
janb
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Feb 27, 2014 11:00 am
Location: TN/Hendersonville

Hello all. Does anyone have experience with the heavy duty caps that are vented? Is there any data as to how much cooler the interior of the gourd stays? Any evidence based research as to how helpful the vents are with successful fledgling percentages?It’s time for new caps on my 36 Excluder Gourds, I’m trying to decide vented vs non vented. The vented cost quite a bit more.I also wondered if there is any way a young baby could get into the vent? All advice appreciated.
Top
James A Lenz
Posts: 120
Joined: Thu Mar 30, 2017 7:30 am
Location: AL, Athens, Limestone County
Martin Colony History: 2017 New Landlord 11 cavities offered 3 pair fledging 8.

janb wrote:Hello all. Does anyone have experience with the heavy duty caps that are vented? Is there any data as to how much cooler the interior of the gourd stays? Any evidence based research as to how helpful the vents are with successful fledgling percentages?It’s time for new caps on my 36 Excluder Gourds, I’m trying to decide vented vs non vented. The vented cost quite a bit more.I also wondered if there is any way a young baby could get into the vent? All advice appreciated.
I can’t see where the coooler caps could have any effect as the holes on the cooler caps are the same size as the original holes and the end of the gourd that was removed is covered just like the original gourd before adding the cooler cap. The spinning vents I’ve been told by a very credible source do not work either. The source is Chuck Abare of Chuckspurple Martin page. I’m thinking of modifying my gourds next season with the “L” pvc vents you add to the top of the gourd on both sides. They look like OGRE EARS. Lol
Top
John Miller
Posts: 4867
Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
Location: St. Louis, MO

I can't find it right now, but someone studied venting a few years back and found that with a slight breeze the temps will drop a few degrees, but just a few. I am hopeful that venting will reduce moisture buildup, which is favorable to mites! I put the PVC elbows in the gourds themselves but putting it in the lid is easier and more forgiving. You can drill out the heavy duty lids yourself and screw in PVC elbows..might be less cost. Keep in mind that you need a right sized hole saw on the end of a drill and that when you buy a PVC elbow that is threaded and it says "1 inch" that refers to the inside diameter. You need a hole saw that is 1 1/4.
Top
James A Lenz
Posts: 120
Joined: Thu Mar 30, 2017 7:30 am
Location: AL, Athens, Limestone County
Martin Colony History: 2017 New Landlord 11 cavities offered 3 pair fledging 8.

John Miller wrote:I can't find it right now, but someone studied venting a few years back and found that with a slight breeze the temps will drop a few degrees, but just a few. I am hopeful that venting will reduce moisture buildup, which is favorable to mites! I put the PVC elbows in the gourds themselves but putting it in the lid is easier and more forgiving. You can drill out the heavy duty lids yourself and screw in PVC elbows..might be less cost. Keep in mind that you need a right sized hole saw on the end of a drill and that when you buy a PVC elbow that is threaded and it says "1 inch" that refers to the inside diameter. You need a hole saw that is 1 1/4.
Very helpful diameters and tips for installing the elbows. Has any experimented with elbow venting the very top of the gourd? Maybe a “U” shaped pvc coming out of the punch out top of the gourd? It could be much larger and it will look like a the actual gourd vine a natural gourd would grow on on the ground.
Top
janb
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Feb 27, 2014 11:00 am
Location: TN/Hendersonville

Thank you to those who replied. I would also love to hear from the admin/PMCA concerning this topic.
Top
Doug Martin - PA
Posts: 1988
Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.

I have over 40 pairs each year. My site is primarily made up of excluder II gourds. These gourds do not seem to require additional venting in the north for the most part. They stay pretty dry too.

Most all my gourds have the Troyer heavy duty caps. I ordered many of the vented caps you are referring to. They seem to help for big 5-7 egg clutches especially.

So I would suggest you order some of them and try them out. Especially for larger clutches. They really seem to help for them.

I have had a very good colony success rate with these gourds. I also use excluder entrances on most everything. Great combo using the entrance with the big deep excluder II gourd.

Doug
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.
Top
John Miller
Posts: 4867
Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
Location: St. Louis, MO

Re: venting in very top. Yes, I mentored a guy in Missouri and suggested venting in his excluder gourds. I told him I put my vents...1 inch threaded PVC elbows, in the back of the gourd toward the top, but not very top. You also must take into the account the hanging arm and not intersect. ..he thought very top would be best and used a drill press. But keep in mind that venting in the lid is easy and doesn't cause a permanent alteration to the gourd.
Top
Evan337
Posts: 155
Joined: Sun Apr 18, 2004 11:00 pm
Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana

I just bought vented caps for my gourds. Hoping it reduces moisture buildup in the troyer horizontal gourds. Not expecting a big reduction in temperature. When it’s 95 degrees anything less than shade or an AC system isn’t going to reduce the temperature significantly. But I think air flow is important. Especially to John’s point of less moisture.
Top
Doug Martin - PA
Posts: 1988
Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.

I have a few horizontals as well.

There is no comparison to the excluder and troyer horizontal as far as moisture build up here. The horizontal really must be vented well. I use 2 large pvc elbows on the back of each one. You could probably use a vented cap in addition in the south.

I think the cold nights up here make the horizontal even wetter (sweat) inside up here. I had some very soupy nests before venting.

Doug
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.
Top
Evan337
Posts: 155
Joined: Sun Apr 18, 2004 11:00 pm
Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Doug,
I’ve noticed the same. Why does the moisture buildup so badly in the troyer horizontal gourds? I was hoping the vented caps would solve the problem but it sounds like I may need to add additional ventilation.
Top
John Miller
Posts: 4867
Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
Location: St. Louis, MO

Regarding horizontals holding more moisture....one thing to evaluate. Some of the horizontals sold a few years back had drain holes which retained a tiny lip around each inside and so water would puddle. I think ones sold now are better, but something to check. It's difficult to drill the holes with lips out larger and not get the hole larger than might be ideal, but I have just drilled one new hole in the bottom of the bowl toward the back to help with drainage. John M
Top
~Ray~Gingerich
Posts: 2122
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 10:24 pm
Location: Delaware/Dover

I have not had any problems with moisture in the horizontals since installing my vents near top of the gourd. I install 2 elbows about one and one quarter inch above each smiley face hole. That gives me 2 vents and 2 smiley face holes for ventilation, all at the top where it helps the most. I don't think I will even try the vented lids, seems it would be an annoyance when doing nest checks.
~Ray~ Gingerich
1999 1pair, 2006 2 pair, 2008 2 pair,
2009 23 pair, 2010 39 pair, 2011 67 pair,
2012 115 pair, 2013 160 pair,
2014 152 pair, 2015 174 pair, 2016 178 pair
2017 187 pair, 2018 200 pair, 2019 171pair
2020 233 pair
Top
Post Reply

Return to “Purple Martin Forum”